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RSC / GF-TADs Europe

Regional Steering Committee (RSC) of the GF-TADs for Europe

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The Permanent Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs for Europe

The  Regional Steering Committee of the GF-TADs acts as a regional stakeholder platform, involving the Bureau of the Regional Commission for Europe, several Delegates of other countries in the region, representatives of the FAO, WHO and WOAH, leading regional technical organizations. The Secretariat is provided by the WOAH Regional Representation in Moscow. The GF-TADs for Europe operates under the overall guidance and supervision of the GF-TADs Global Steering Committee and Management Committee.

The Terms of Reference of the Regional Steering Committee and Regional Secretariat of the GF-TADs for Europe were endorsed in 2020, during 9th meeting of the GF-TADs Steering Committee for Europe.

Composition of the Permanent GF-TADs Regional Steering Committee for Europe

Update: 12th meeting of the Regional Steering Committee (September, 2025)

 

President: Dr Bernard Van Goethem, Director for Crisis management in food, animals and plants, European Commission

Vice Presidents:

  • Dr Ulrich Herzog, first Vice President of the Bureau of WOAH Regional Commission for Europe, WOAH Delegate and CVO of Austria
  • Dr Keti Margariti, Secretary General of the Bureau of WOAH Regional Commission for Europe

Permanent Secretariat: Dr Budimir Plavsic, WOAH Regional Representative for Europe

Members:

Dr Maris Balodis, President of the Bureau of WOAH Regional Commission for Europe

Dr Ulrich Herzog, Vice-President of the Bureau of WOAH Regional Commission for Europe

Dr Galib Abdulaliyev, Vice-President of the Bureau of WOAH Regional Commission for Europe

Dr Keti Margariti, Secretary General of the Bureau of WOAH Regional Commission for Europe

Dr Konstantin Savenkov, WOAH Delegate, Russian Federation

Dr Abrar Akbarov, WOAH Delegate, Uzbekistan

Dr Herman Claeys, WOAH Delegate, Belgium

Dr Willem Pelgrim, WOAH Delegate, The Netherlands

Dr Bernard Van Goethem, European Commission

Dr Marie-Christine Le Gal, WOAH Delegate, France (Chair of the Executive Committee of the EuFMD)

Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Representative for Europe

Dr Ugo Della Marta, WOAH Delegate, Italy

Dr Philippe Ankers, WOAH Delegate, Switzerland

Dr Katharina Kluge, WOAH Delegate, Germany

Mr Virel Gutu, FAO Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia

Dr Budimir Plavsic, WOAH Regional Representative for Europe

Dr Tiensin Tanawat, Headquarters Representative of FAO, Rome

Dr Baba Soumare, Headquarters Representative of WOAH, Paris

Action Plan

View and download the Second Action Plan (2023-2027) of the Regional Steering Committee

View and download the First Action Plan (2012 – 2016) of the Regional Steering Committee 

 

Roles and responsibilities of the GF-TADs Steering Committee for Europe

  • To promote the control and eradication of specific TADs in the region and to provide strategic direction to the activities of the RS-Europe
  • To promote synergies between WOAH and FAO activities related to transboundary animal diseases and between the GF-TADs global disease specific bodies
  • To foster a spirit of solidarity, transparency, and cooperation across the Europe region between Member Countries, donors, RSOs, RSUs and other parties involved in prevention and control of TADs
  • To ensure a harmonized and inclusive regional approach to TADs control and to contribute to the GF-TADs governance at global level, coordination with RSC of other regions, and ensure consistency with recommendations from GSC and global diseases specific bodies
  • To establish effective cooperation and coordination with, and to provide support to relevant FAO/WOAH/WHO Tripartite structures in Europe in areas of mutual interest, in order to facilitate synergies and efficient exchange in relevant fields, while avoiding duplication of efforts and ensuring rational resource management
  • To establish Standing Groups of Experts, Regional Advisory Groups or other technical assistance structures involved in cross-border control of TADs
  • To encourage coordination with other networks, capacity building and technical assistance projects which are active in Europe or subregions of Europe, or neighboring regions, for prevention and control of priority TADs for the region
  • To contribute to and review draft of the Global Strategy, Global Action Plan and list of TADs of global priority
  • To develop and validate the regional operational Action Plan and to ensure prioritization of TADs based on specific epidemiological situation in Europe, expectations from Member Countries, and aligned with the strategic documents of the GSC, if any
  • To validate any updates to the regional operational Action Plan and monitor its implementation with the support of the RS-Europe
  • To validate and endorse the reports of meetings, the Terms of Reference, the standard operational procedures, and the principles of GF-TADs branding (labeling) of events carried out in Europe
  • To encourage regional participation in the collection of information to conduct monitoring and evaluation of GF-TADs activities
  • For the President of the RSC-Europe to attend meetings of the GF-TADs governing structures when and if relevant (GSC, MC), with the support of the RS-Europe
  • To identify and engage when possible and as appropriate, potential NGOs, farmers’ associations and regional organizations to be invited to technical meetings
  • To identify and share information on success stories through relevant channels (GF-TADs website, OIE Newsletter, FAO EMPRES News, etc.) and to provide guidance to the RS-Europe on the information to share through the regional GF-TADs website
  • To support and advise the GS on issues related to GF-TADs for Europe
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